Found you (On Hold)

Shifts

Mahi's POV

Chris gives me a reassuring smile and retrieves his task, taking steps forward to the firemen standing in front of the buildings. I watch from distance as he takes one of them to the side and shakes his hand. He says something and the fireman smiles at him. They talk for a few minutes and Chris points his finger to me, probably telling the guy that I lived there. Chris' expressions become much serious and the charm is replaced by authority as he continues talking to the fireman.

Meanwhile I look at the destroyed pile of bricks and mud which I called home few hours ago. Almost four buildings are destroyed. The Baker's shop, two buildings left to mine is the most damaged it seems. The shop owner, Tom, is a very nice man, very polite. I guess if you have to make something as soft as cakes and pastries, you have to be polite. I hope he's okay. I really liked him. He reminded me of my uncle Kuldeep back in India. He was a chef in Delhi and he was the one who motivated me to pursue my dreams, no matter how crazy they sounded to my family or people in our village. He left the village to become a chef in the city. He was the centre of most of the jokes back in home because they considered him as a man who was trying to do women's task but I respected him, more than my own father. I always admired his perspective on life and self improvement. After coming here, I saw uncle Kuldeep in Tom and I really want Tom to be okay. I don't know much people but there was a seven months pregnant lady in my building too.

Now that I'm thinking about it, the faces that I'd seen during the past month, flash in front of my eyes and I don't want any of them hurt. I was lucky enough to leave the house tonight. I hope they were lucky enough to get saved.

Chris starts walking towards me, looking both ways on the road, while talking on his phone. His expressions unreadable. I look at him and try to read his lips but he ended the call too fast. When he reaches to where I'm standing, he holds my hand and takes me near a street lamp, probably thinking that I'll need support to stand after the report.

"Do you have any place to stay for a few days?" He asks me, looking straight in the eye with a very serious expression.

"What? How bad is it?" I ask, already knowing the answer. I'm homeless.

"It was gas leak, according to the firemen. The fire started from the building on your left. It spread pretty quickly and there's a lot of damage which is apparent." He says pointing to the now debris of four multistory buildings.

"They've informed the owners of the buildings. The woman who informed you had contact numbers of the residents so she called you. Now don't panic but the building's not gonna be in a position for anyone to live there for awhile." He continues. I, being the weird person I am, keep staring him. He stares me back, waiting for a response.

"Mahi... Are you ok?" He asks sofly, whispers almost.

"Are there any... I mean... any... umm... did anyone...?" I'm unable to complete my sentence. I can feel my hands and feet getting cold just by thinking about it. I could've been in there. I could've died this very night. I would've burnt to death. At this moment, when I'm standing in front of these burnt buildings, there were chances of me being in a hospital, probably dead.

"6 people, including one pregnant lady from your building." He declares. A shiver runs down my spine and I can feel my whole body getting cold, like a corpse. Cold sweat now covering my skin, my knees go weak. The next thing I know is that I try to hold Chris' arm tightly but am able to only grab collar of his blazer and there's a flash of light and then blank.
***********

Various hushed noises are heard in the background. I don't recognize any of them. I try to open my eyes but they are just too heavy so I stop trying momentarily. "Dude! Take her to the hospital." I hear someone say.